The floods damaged hundreds of properties in the city

In January 2005, the equivalent of two months of rain fell over a 24-hour period in the city, pushing water levels to their highest ever.

The floods directly affected 1,925 properties and the cost of the damage to the city is estimated to be between �200m and �250m.

Three people died in the storms which struck on the night of 7/8 January.

One of those who is still waiting to move back into her home is Rachel Lee. She is hoping she will be able to return by March.

Rachel Lee said she has given up setting targets

She said: "I am just going to see what happens, I have given up trying to set targets."

In the aftermath of the floods, Carlisle City Council set up a system where those affected could speak to each other and pass on their experiences and she said she had found that very helpful.

The council also ran a major clean-up operation and offered advice and support to help people return to normal.

The Carlisle Renaissance project has been set up to set out a vision for the city for the next 10 to 15 years.

There were already plans for new flood defences for the city before last January's floods and these were amended in light of what happened.

Construction of the first phase of the scheme is due to start in the spring.